The Commission establishes sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts. Each year, the Commission reviews and refines these policies in light of congressional action, decisions from courts of appeals, sentencing-related research, and input from the criminal justice community.

In this section, you can follow the Commission’s work through the amendment cycle as priorities are set, research is performed, testimony is heard, and amendments are adopted.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission is an independent agency in the judicial branch that was created as part of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. Commissioners are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee, and the Chair of the U.S. Parole Commission serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the Commission.

In this section, learn about the Commission’s mission, structure, and ongoing work.

K

Kidnapping

If a person is abducted, taken hostage, or unlawfully restrained to facilitate the commission of an offense or to facilitate escape from the scene of a crime, an upward departure may be warranted (§5K2.4). If a person is convicted of a kidnapping offense, they may be sentenced under the kidnapping guideline, found at §2A4.1.